Friday, October 31, 2008
Ghostly White
Put A Cork On It
I've always been a fan of the cork / ribbon board. I love to look at what people put up as inspiration and their personal mementos. Here are some great examples of using them as a focal point.
This is an awesome application in formal panels above the breakfast table. What a great way to communicate with your family. Every member could have their own section.
Allesandra Branca - a fan of the ribbon board
Another Branca board
Love these alternatives to cork - clipboards and chicken wire and clothes pins , Who knew!
The top board is made from actual corks! You'd certainly have fun drinking all the bottles of wine you'd need to make this one.
How many of us grew up sticking pictures and notes to our vanity mirror? Here's a grown up version. I love it.
Wall pockets are a new trend. Very tailored and great for the neat freak who cannot tolerate the chaos of a conventional board.
No matter how you pull it off, inspiration, message or memento boards are a great personal touch to any interior.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Witch or Sexy Kitten?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
HORSE
Photo by Reinhard Hunger, styling by Chris Himmel
Photo by Yann-Arthus Bertrand
Photo by Peter Llewellyn/PMG Pictures
Photo by Loomis Dean/Time Life Pictures
Photo by Fabio Chizzola
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
United We Stand
More Things I'm Grateful For - Cheese
Recently, I posted a list of things I was grateful for now that our country is broke. I’ve received so many emails and messages regarding this post that I thought I would share some of my thoughts about it.
I was surprised to see that, like me, although people are very nervous about their financial certainty, there is a pervading sense of deep relief among those who sent me messages. Many people are finding that they have been living a life that has been dictated by their peers. They shop, primp, eat and socialize not for themselves but to keep from being trampled under the stiletto clad, manicured feet of the millions of other wannabe’s they are racing against. In a society where the brand of your purse and sunglasses has become more important than your intellect or personality, the pressure of keeping up with the Jones’s has left us ready to blow! Now, impending financial doom has made it ok and even stylish to throw aside some of our materials trappings and focus on - dare I say it – living within our means!!!!!
Margie BoulƩ a columnist for The Oregonia, the daily paper in
She writes, “When my Volkswagen bug broke down, it sat parked in front of my tiny apartment for months, because I couldn't afford to have it repaired. I once ate cheese for two days because it was the only thing left in my refrigerator. It was one of the happiest times of my life. My friends and I spent a lot of time together. We had spontaneous, outlandishly creative parties. We shared food. We laughed all the time.”
I think we Americans have been falling down drunk on excess and materialism and we are just now beginning to sober up and see what fools we made of ourselves dancing on the table at the office party.
We are joining together in a collective sigh of relief that the constant pressure to have more, buy more, get more, is finally easing up. Now we can look forward to getting back to life as it should be, guided by a bit of sober reality that will keep us in check and hopefully prevent us from reverting back to our old ways when things pick up.
Thanks Margie...
Monday, October 27, 2008
Window of the Week
Update: I am so excited to learn from a reader, The Collettes, that her mother is the artisan who made this treatment! It's much easier to identify the designer at times than the workroom that actually makes these designs come to life. Without a talented workroom good design would be impossible.
Final thoughts...
All in all, it was a good first project. The bachelor once said that I would never have another client like him since he liked everything I showed him and pretty much let me do what I wanted and he was right. It also made me realize that I love styling and shopping for the art and accessories. I just heard last week that one woman just goes shopping for design projects. I may just have to look into that! Sounds like my dream job!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Cascade Coil - New Age Drapery
Over the past few years I have seen many applications of , wire fabrics, chain mail or beaded string draperies or room dividers in stark modern interiors of restaurants or nightclubs. Recently I ran across these installations from Cascade Coil that use the product in an almost warm and cozy way.
The soft draping of these long panels surrounds each booth providing the hint of privacy and intimacy without isolation.
I love the way the product has been used in this residential application. Separate panels are juxtaposed to provide separation while maintaining an open feel to the loft space.
The creative mind never ceases to amaze me. Just when you think you have a particular product figured out someone will come up with a whole new way to use it.
The Bachelor Pad: C'est Fini
It also happened to rain Saturday night. A few people cancelled but all in all it turned out to be a fun party. I thought we were going to have too much food but some girls who showed up ended up chowing down. I did order too much wine but that will definitely not go to waste.
I can't find the other photo of the bed but you do get a look at the Ralph Lauren dresser that we splurged on. Everyone who saw it fell in love with it. You can't tell here but the wood looks like it's part of an expensive yacht and the pulls are leather and silver. There is supposed to be a small flat screen tv sitting on it but someone hasn't gotten around to buying it which is why the art is hung the way that it is on the wall. By the way, can you tell which painting was bought on ebay for $60 and which one was bought at Flair for $1500???
All in all, it was a 6 month process from start to almost finish. There are still a few details left that need attending to but they might have to wait until things are little more under control financially. I will be forever grateful to my friend for giving me the opportunity to undertake a project all by myself. It was tough and he and I didn't always get along during it. Some people know and others guessed that he and I had at one time dated. It didn't work out but we remained friends. I will admit that I had hoped that the project might bring us closer and result in a happy ending but alas it did not. I may have created the grown up apartment he wanted but someone isn't quite ready to grow up himself. But I do have a great project to add to my portfolio and a lot more time on my hands! C'est fini!